Adjustable binder handle

ABSTRACT

A carrier adapted to be attached to a binder, such as a computer print out binder, wherein the binder post engaging hooks are slidably mounted for movement towards and away from each other to accommodate binders having different binder post spacings.

United States Patent [191 Sullivan Feb. 5, 1974 [54] ADJUSTABLE BINDERHANDLE 1,489,112 4/ 1924 Bowles 294/16 Inventor: J L. Sullivan New York,N-Y. R24,661 6/1959 Pmkerson 294/63 B A Th M d C D FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS [73] .sslgneei ea ayton 43,954 8/1965 Germany 294/81 R569,816 6/1945 Great Britain 224/45 D 2 Filed; June 8, 1972 488,32711/1952 Canada 294/81 R [21] APPI- 260,968 Primary Examiner-Gerald M.Forienza Assistant Examiner-Kenneth Noland [52] US. Cl. 224/45 P, 294/81R 294/16, tt rney, Agent, or Firm-Biebel, French & Bugg 224/45 F v 51Im. Cl B421 15 00 7] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search. 224/45 P, 45 F, 8 R,7 E; A carrier adapted to be attached to a binder, such as 294/63 B, 27H, 16, 81 R a computer print out binder, wherein the binder'postengaging hooks are slidably mounted for movement [56] References Citedtowards and away from each other to accommodate binders having differentbinder post spacings.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE BINDER HANDLE CROSS REFERENCE TORELATEDAPPLICATION BINDER CARRIE-R AND SUPPORT STRUCTURE, Ser. No.220,276; Filed Jan. 24, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The above noted, related applicationdiscloses a binder carrier which is particularly adapted for use withbinders for computer print out sheets and which offers severaladvantages overprior art structures of this type.

For example, the carrier of the above noted, related application can bereadily attached and detached from the binder without disassembly of thebinder covers or removal of the print out sheets contained therebetween.Additionally, the carrier is formed with a relatively deep, flat centralportion which facilitates engagement of the binder posts by the carrierhooks by separating the sheets to thereby provide ease of entry of thebinder post engaging hooks between the sheets.

Further, when the binder posts are engaged by the carrier the relativelydeep, flat central portion of the carrier -,.provides.improved stabilityduring handling and storage. These are butsome of the advantages gainedthrough the structure described and claimed ,in the above noted, relatedapplication. However, despite the many advantages of this carrier itwill be seen that each binder requires a carrier-in which the spacing ofthe binder post engaging hooks are matched to the spacing of posts ofthe binder with which it is to be used. Since binder post spacing mayvary this necessitates maintaining an additional inventory of varioussize carriers.

- SUMMA-RY 'OFTI-IE INVENTION The carrier of the present inventionprovides a constfuction in which allof the above noted advantages of thecarrier described in applicants copending application are obtained butwhich additionally provides the ability to be used with binders havingvarious binder post spacings.

This is attained in accordance with the present invention by adjustablymounting the binder post hooks on wing portions projecting outwardly ofthe relatively deep, flat main body section of the carrier. Thus, eachof the binder post hooks are attached to acollar which encircles theoutwardly projecting wing portions and are slidable therealong towardsand away from each other.

While the binder carrier of the present invention thus provides theadditional features of adjustability, this feature is attained with arelatively simplified construction of the components which can bereadily manufactured andassembled, thereby avoiding the substantiallyincreased costs which might be expected by providing adjustability.

The collar which slidably engages each of the outwardly projecting wingportions is formed as a split collar and in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention, a pin is received through the collar andthrough a slot which extends longitudinally of the wing BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS .FIG. 1 is a side view of a binder with thecarrier of the present invention attached thereto and with portions ofthe binder removed for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the carrier per se;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through one embodiment of an adjustablehook of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross'sectional view through a second preferred embodimentof the adjustable hook;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view through a third preferred embodiment ofthe adjustable hook; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hook of FIG. 5 with the side platesseparated to show the dovetail a'ttaching means. thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As seen in FIG. 1, the bindercarrier 10 of the present invention is particularly adapted to be usedwith a binder of the type commonly employed for collecting computerprint outs. Thus, the binder 12 includesa pair of covers 14 and a pairof flexible binder posts 16 of nylon or the like which are threadedthrough openings 18 formed at regularly spaced intervals along each edgeof the computer print out sheets and are bent over at either end, as at20, and secured beneath each of the covers 14.

The carrier 10 includes an elongated, relatively flat,

deep main body section 22 which is adapted to be inserted between theprint out sheets in the binder to separate the sheets and facilitateattachment of the carrier to the binder. The main body section may alsobe provided with an enlarged portion 24 along one edge thereof to serveas either a handle or a means of attaching the carrier to a channelshaped rack and an elongated slot 26 is preferably formed beneathportion 24 to facilitate handling.

Projecting outwardly from opposite ends of the section 22 are wingportions 28 which are of substantially less depth than'the main bodysection and substantially coplanar therewith. Preferably, the distalendsof each of the wing portion 28 projects downwardly, at as 30, toprovide means for engaging a supporting rack and, if desired, thesupporting rack engaging means 30 may be somewhat thicker than theremainder of the wing portions 28 to provide better seating engagementwith a supporting rail.

Slidably mounted on each of the wing portions 28 is an adjustable posthook 32. Each post hook 32 includes a collar 34 of split construction,including a pair of opposed side plates 36 and 38 joined along one oftheir edges, as at 40. The opposite edges of the side plates 36 and 38may engage in overlapping relationship, as seen in FIG. 3,and it will benoted that an edge 42 of the side plate 36 extends transversely of thecollar to provide a surface 44. which engages the upper surface 46 ofthe wing portion 28 with which it is associated.

Depending from the collar 34 is a hook including a shank portion 48, abight portion 50 and a return portion 52, which together define a postengaging hook, the hook opening toward the associated wing portion. Inaccordance with the embodiment of FIG. 3, the adjustable hook 32 isprovided with a pin 54 which extends from one side plate 38 to the otherand may be retained therein by a friction fit if desired.

With this construction the wing portions 28 are provided with elongatedslots 56 which extend the length of the wing portions from adjacent themain body section 22 to the supporting rack engaging means 30 to therebyretain the collars on thewing portions, particularly where means 30 arenot enlarged with respect to the remainder of the wing portion, and tolimit slidable movement of the collars thereon.

In accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention theoverlapping construction shown in FIG. 3 may be somewhat simplified.Thus, as seen in FIG. 4, an adjustable hook 60 is provided with opposedside plates 62 and 64 and a shank portion 66 terminating in a hooksimilar to the hook shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. However, in theembodiment according to FIG. 4 the overlapping configuration iseliminated and the side plate 62 is provided with an extension 68 whichprovides a surface 70 which engage the top edge 46 of the wing portionwith which the adjustable collar is associated. In practice this hasbeen found to strengthen the hook member in the area of the portion 68thereof.

With reference to FIGS. and 6 of the drawings, a third preferredembodiment of a hook member is illustrated. Thus, the hook 80 includesside plates 82 and 84 joined, as at 86, along their lower edges. A shank88 extends from the juncture of the side plates downwardly to a hookmember which includes a bight portion 90 and a return portion 92.

At their upper ends, however, the side plates 82 and 84 are providedwith a dovetail slot 94 and a complementary dovetail plug 96,respectively, which interfit to provide a snap fit of the side plates attheir upper ends. As in the previous constructions, a transverselyextended portion 97 provides a surface 98 for engagement with the upperedge 46 of the wing portion with which it is associated.

Of course, it will be apparent that with either the embodiments of FIGS.4 or 5, a pin, such as the pin 54, may be utilized, as in theconstruction of FIG. 3. In any case, it will be seen that the spacingbetween the hook members may be adjusted to accommodate a wide range ofbinder post spacings, thereby adapting the carrier of thepresentinvention to a great variety of binders and eliminating the necessity ofmaintaining an extensive inventory of carriers.

While the products herein described constitute preferred embodiments ofthe invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedto these precise products, and that changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable binder carrier comprising:

a. a central main body section,

b. wing portions projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said mainbody section substantially coplanar therewith,

c. each of said wing portions terminating in means for engagingsupporting rails, and

d. an adjustable post hook associated with each of said wing portions,

e. each of said adjustable post hooks including:

i. a split collar portion having opposite side plates engaging oppositesides of said wing portions and encircling the wing portion with whichit is associated and slidable therealong between said main section andsaid supporting rail engaging means,

ii. a depending shank portion extending from said collar portion awayfrom said associated wing,

iii. said side plates being joined to each other along an edge thereofadjacent said shank portion,

iv. an edge of one of said side plates opposite said shank portionhaving a transversely extending portion engaging an edge of the wingportion with which it is associated,

v. means defining a dovetail slot in the edge of one of said side platesopposite said shank portion,

vi. a dovetail plug on the other of said side plates on the edge thereofopposite said shank portion complementary to and received in saiddovetail slot, and

viii. a hook portion extending from said shank portion and openingtoward said associated wing portion.

2. An adjustable binder carrier comprising:

a. an elongated, relatively flat, deep, main body section,

b. means defining an enlarged portion extending along one edge of saidmain body section,

0. means defining an elongated opening through the main body sectionextending longitudinally thereof intermediate said enlarged portion andan opposite edge of said main body section,

(1. elongated wing portions of substantially less depth than said mainbody section projecting outwardly from opposite ends thereof insubstantially coplanar relationship therewith,

e. means on distal ends of said wing portions for engaging supportingrails, and

f. an adjustable post hook associated with each. of

said wing portions and including:

i. a collar portion encircling the wing portion with which it isassociated and slidable therealong between said main body section andsaid supporting rail engaging means,

ii. a shank portion formed integrally with said collar portion andextending away from the wing portion with which it is associatedincoplanar relationship with said main body section,

iii. a bight portion having a post engaging surface positionedintermediate projections of said edges of said main section, and

iv. a return portion extending from said bight portion toward the wingportion with which it is associated and terminating in spacedrelationship to said collar portion,

g. each of said collar portions including:

i. opposed side plates engaging opposite sides of said wing portions,

ii. flexible means joining said side plates along one edge thereof,

iii. a dovetail socket means in one of said side plates, and

iv. dovetail plug means on the other of said side plates complementaryto and received in said socket means, i

h. means defining an elongated slot extending longisaid slots.

1. An adjustable binder carrier comprising: a. a central main bodysection, b. wing portions projecting outwardly from opposite sides ofsaid main body section substantially coplanar therewith, c. each of saidwing portions terminating in means for engaging supporting rails, and d.an adjustable post hook associated with each of said wing portions, e.each of said adjustable post hooks including: i. a split collar portionhaving opposite side plates engaging opposite sides of said wingportions and encircling the wing portion with which it is associated andslidable therealong between said main section and said supporting railengaging means, ii. a depending shank portion extending from said collarportion away from said associated wing, iii. said side plates beingjoined to each other along an edge thereof adjacent said shank portion,iv. an edge of one of said side plates opposite said shank portionhaving a transversely extending portion engaging an edge of the wingportion with which it is associated, v. means defining a dovetail slotin the edge of one of said side plates opposite said shank portion, vi.a dovetail plug on the other of said side plates on the edge thereofopposite said shank portion complementary to and received in saiddovetail slot, and viii. a hook portion extending from said shankportion and opening toward said associated wing portion.
 2. Anadjustable binder carrier comprising: a. an elongated, relatively flat,deep, main body section, b. means defining an enlarged portion extendingalong one edge of said main body section, c. means defining an elongatedopening tHrough the main body section extending longitudinally thereofintermediate said enlarged portion and an opposite edge of said mainbody section, d. elongated wing portions of substantially less depththan said main body section projecting outwardly from opposite endsthereof in substantially coplanar relationship therewith, e. means ondistal ends of said wing portions for engaging supporting rails, and f.an adjustable post hook associated with each of said wing portions andincluding: i. a collar portion encircling the wing portion with which itis associated and slidable therealong between said main body section andsaid supporting rail engaging means, ii. a shank portion formedintegrally with said collar portion and extending away from the wingportion with which it is associated in coplanar relationship with saidmain body section, iii. a bight portion having a post engaging surfacepositioned intermediate projections of said edges of said main section,and iv. a return portion extending from said bight portion toward thewing portion with which it is associated and terminating in spacedrelationship to said collar portion, g. each of said collar portionsincluding: i. opposed side plates engaging opposite sides of said wingportions, ii. flexible means joining said side plates along one edgethereof, iii. a dovetail socket means in one of said side plates, andiv. dovetail plug means on the other of said side plates complementaryto and received in said socket means, h. means defining an elongatedslot extending longitudinally of each of said wing portions, and i. pinmeans extending through said side plates and said slots.